Significant Impact of the Presidential Election on Youth Health and Well-Being

Lurie Children’s Center for Childhood Resilience and the Illinois Childhood Trauma Coalition experts partnered together to develop a post-election message with resources to help professionals, families and all who work with children and youth provide the words and support that can help them to be resilient in these times. While many youth and children are confused and worried, there are particular groups that are despondent, and we encourage you to share this information widely with those working with youth in schools and mental health centers where these children may seek support.

It’s an unfortunate truth – childhood trauma exists

If you’re like most of us, the very phrase “childhood trauma” automatically strikes a note of fear. No one wants it to happen and no one wants to see trauma in a child they love. Unfortunately, childhood trauma does happen. And it can happen to children at any age—from birth through adolescence. Research shows that roughly 20% to 25% of children in the United States will experience some form of childhood trauma before they reach adulthood. But there is hope. You can do something to prevent, identify and overcome trauma for your child. It all starts when you Look Through Their Eyes.

Some Leading Causes

The most common causes of childhood trauma include:

Accidents

Bullying/cyberbullying

Chaos or dysfunction in the house

Death of a loved one

Domestic violence

Emotional abuse or neglect

Incarcerated parent

Parent with a mental illness

Physical abuse or neglect

Separation from a parent or caregiver

Sexual abuse

Stress caused by poverty

Substance abuse

Sudden and/or serious medical condition

Violence (at home, at school, or in the surrounding community)

War/terrorism

Among the causes of childhood trauma are bullying, community violence as well as natural disasters. Click on the videos below to learn more about bullying and community violence, and find resources available to help parents and families. Click on the natural disaster app below to learn about a free app from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) that you can get to help you explain, prepare, respond and heal from these events.

Young Children and Trauma

Children can experience trauma as early as infancy. In fact, young children between the ages of 0 and 5 are the most vulnerable to the effects of trauma since their brains are still in the early formative years. The problem is that babies and young children don’t have the understanding to process what’s going on around them, nor do they have the language to express what they are feeling. That’s why parents and caregivers have to Look Through Their Eyes—and Listen With Your Heart—to make sure your littlest children aren’t experiencing trauma or its negative effects.
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The "Stories" Series

“Stories for Children that Grownups Can Watch” is an innovative set of materials that help young children who have been exposed to trauma and/or violence, and to provide resource information for families. These include interactive DVDs with animated films, coloring/activity books, and tutorials from leading experts, and are available in English and Spanish.
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This project was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number X02MC26317 Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.